Midland of Buenos Aires 2-8-2 Locomotives in Argentina

Class unknown (Locobase 20181)

Data from "A Novel Locomotive for the Argentine", Locomotive Magazine, Volume XIX [19] (15 January 1913), p. 20.

The novelty found in this locomotive's design was in its frame. The front part, which extended from the front buffer beam to behind the last coupled axle, was formed by the set of frame plates, "stiffly braced together in the usual manner." From there to the tender coupler pocket, a single heavy girder extended along the locomotive's centerline, its profile dipping to take the firebox, then rising to support the footplate.

But there was more innovation in store. Between the two tubeplates at each end, the builder inserted a secondary tubeplate about 3/4s of the way to the front tubesheet that created a separate compartment over the front quarter. The idea was to inject the feed water into the lower section, where "the least useful portion of the heating surface of the tubes is utilised in raising the feed water to boiler temperature." Moreover, "all impurities and sediment" would be "readily removed through a mudhole." Shields prevented cool water from rising and another prevented water from cooling the steam in the dry pipe.